Starting mechanism for automobiles.



C. E. WILSON.

STARTING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-6, I915.

1,246,206. Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR Wu Char/es Wf/son Q BY ATTORNEY CHARLES E. VIILSQN,F WILKINSBUJRG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB, TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC ANDMANUFACTURIN r COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVJQINKA.

Specification. of Letters Patent.

STARTING MECHANTSM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Patented Nov. i3, 191?.

Application filed August 6, 1915. Scriai No. 44,005.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. Vinson, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Wilkinshurg, in the county of Allet gheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in StartingMechanisms for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to starting mechaac nisms for automobiles andparticularly to such mechanisms as embody dynamo-electric machineshaving reciprocating armatures for efiecting the operative connection ofthe dynamo-electric machines to the shafts of internal combustionengines.

My invention has for its object to provide a simple and eiiicientarrangement whereby the armature of a dynamo-electric machine may bereciprocated longitudinally with a strong force while little or notorque is of fective to rotate the armature.

The successful operation of starting mechanisms of the same generalcharacter as that of my invention depends upon the provision of meanswhereby the armature may be shifted longitudinally to effect the meshingof the coacting gear Wheels which operatively connect the electricmotors to the engines of the motor vehicles while little or W no torqueis applied to the armature. Otherwise, the armature rotates at such ahigh rate of speed, upon the closing of the motor circuit, that themeshing of the gear wheels is rendered difficult or the coacting teethare damaged as a result of the impact when they are brought intoengagement. When a relatively high torque is exerted upon the armature,the lateral pressure upon the gear teeth renders it difficult to 4efiect the complete meshing of the gear wheels even when the initialengagement of the teeth has been effected.

In the present arrangement, a dynamoelectric machine is provided with anarmaeb ture having a winding of an abnormally large number of ampereturns, as, for example, double the ampere turns of the seriesfield-magnet winding. When the armature winding is energized, thearmature re- 5 action is increased in a corresponding dees. The magneticpull exerted upon the field-magnet poles is also increased insubstantially the same proportion.

Wh n the armature on y is co ne ted. in

circuit with a source of current, the armature reaction is strong enoughto efiect the shifting of the armature into its central position andthereby effect the engagement of the coacting gear wheels. Since thefieldmagnet windings are not energized, no torque is effective to rotatethe armature, and the gear Wheels are easily meshed. In order to insureproper conditions for commutation, a compensating field-magnet windingis provided. Otherwise, an abnormal distortion of the magnetic field iscaused by reason of the armature reaction during the normal operation ofthe motor.

The details of my invention will be described in connection with theaccompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a view, partially in sectionand partially in elevation, of a portion of an engine fly wheel, with myinvention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of circuits andapparatus embodying my invention.

-The fiy wheel 1 of an internal-combustion engine, only a portion ofwhich is shown, is provided with gear teeth 2. An electric motor 3,which is supported by any suitable means adjacent the fly wheel, has afield-magnet core structure 4, a series field magnet winding 5 and acompensating fieldmagnet winding 6.

The motor armature 7 is provided with a winding the ampere turns ofwhich may greatly exceed the ampere turns of the series field-magnetwinding 5.v

The armature 7 and the armature shaft 8 are arranged for longitudinalmovement relatively to the field-magnet frame. spring. 9, which isinterposed between a collar member 10 on the armature shaft and one ofthe bearings 12, tends to maintain the armature in a displaced positionrelatively to the core structure; The commutator cylinder 13 is of suchlength that it is always in engagement with coacting brushes 1% that aresecured to the motor frame. A pinion 15, which is mounted on thearmature shaft 8, coacts with the gear teeth 2 in the engine fly wheel.

The electrical circuits of the motor 3 and the controlling meanstherefor are diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 2. A movable switchmember 16 coacts with a contact segment 17 to connect a battery directlyin cirwit with the armature winding, the field magnet windings 5 and 6being opencircuited when such connection is made. When the switch member16 engages contact memher. 18, the working circuit of the motor iscompleted through the series field-magnet winding 5, the compensatingfield magnet winding (3 and the motor armature.

It may be assumed that the various parts are in their respectiveillustrated positions, with the pinion 15 out of engagement with thegear teeth 2 and the switch member 16 in its inoperative or oilposition. To start the engine, the switch member 16 is actuated intoengagement with the contact segment 17 to complete a. circuit throughthe motor armature. Because of the relatively large number of ampereturns in the armature winding, a strong, magnetic pull is exerted uponthe field-magnet poles which is suili cient to shift the armature to itscentral position against the force the spring 9.

During the longitudinal movement or" the armature to effect theengagement of the pinion 15 with the gear teeth 9;, the field magnetwindings are definergizod, and there substantially no torque applied tothe armature. The residual magnetism of the field-magnet oles may causeslight etation of the nature but such action assists in reflecting theinitial engagement of the teeth The h member 16, which has been actuatedWit continuous movement, engages the cont ct member 18 substantially thesame e ll at the armature reaches its cen tral posi"on, The normalworking circuit oi the motor, including the field-magnet windings 5 and6, is thus completed, and the motor then operates to crank the engine.

Wifhen the engine starts under its own power, the switch member 16 isactuated to open the motor circuit is preferable it irechai' ously 111 cor conn' pine i speed. ti e motor s the armature circuit t .1310 machineto sh I eeaaoc the spring 9, whereupon the armature is shifted to itsdisplaced position, and the pinion 15 is disengaged from the gear teeth2. It is clear, therefore, that no damage may be caused by failure toopen the switch at the instant the engine starts.

Many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which myinvention appertains, and it is to be understood that such changes maybe made as fall within the scope of the appended claims withoutcleparting from the spirit of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a starting mechanism, the combination with an engine member, and amember for coacting therewith, of a dynamo-electric machine having alongitudinally shittahle armature connected to said coacting member, andmeans for energizing said armature only to effect the connection of saidmembers.

in a starting mechanism, the combination with an engine member. and amen her for coactinn' therewith of a oynan'io-ele machine living alongitudinally s armature connected to coactii and means for controll*3; said trio machine wher by the by reaction only to effect heoperative engagement of said members.

3. in a starting mechanism, the co tion with an engine-member, and a:gor coacting therewith, of a dynamomachine having longitudinallyarmature connected to said coactiny her, and means for successivelycompleting the armature circuit only of said dynamoclcctric machine ndcompleting a working circuit comprising the armature winding and thefield-magnet winding of said dynamoelectric machine.

i. in a starting mechanism, the combinaan engine men'iber, and a membert to nd means for so,

creh

and th

